“The Spirit,” is Frank Miller’s film noir adaptation of the classic Will Eisner comic strip series and actress Scarlett Johansson is currently closing out negotiations to play the curvey and dangerously beautiful Silk N. Floss. The “Spirit” comic wasn’t the least bit shy about showing its women as sexy and voluptuous and Miller intends to stay true to the strip in this film homage.

The thrust of Eisner’s tale centers on Detective Denny Colt, a man who fakes his own murder and is reborn as a hero who returns from the great beyond as “The Spirit.” His mission? To fight evil in all its forms from his secret lair within Central City. Gabriel Macht stars as Colt.

Silk N. Floss works as a secretary with a need to take out vengence on those she deems worthy of such attention. She is sharp, intelligent, sly and cunning making her and Octopus, who will be portrayed by the great Samuel L. Jackson, the perfect evil duo.

Sam Jackson has several films in post-production and awaiting release. Included are “Iron Man” where he plays Nick Fury, the SF flick “Jumper” and “Cleaner.” He is also currently filming the thriller “Lakeview Terrace” and once he is finished working on “The Spirit,” will be providing the voice of Fear in the animated SF film “Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey.”

Johansson will be kept busy before and after filming “The Spirit” with such films as “Brilliant,” the title role in “Mary Queen of Scots,” “Pompeii,” “Woody Allen Spanish Project” and “The Other Boleyn Girl.”

Macht’s new horror-thriller “Whiteout” with Kate Beckinsale is currently in post-production and will be released in 2008.

Location shooting for “The Spirit” should begin this fall, possibly as soon as October, with full production to commence shortly after that. “The Spirit” is set to be released sometime in 2009.

[Pictured above from left to right are — Frank Miller, Gabriel Macht, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and the late, great Will Eisner]